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Los Angeles, CA (News4usOnline) - It was not the ending that Shohei Ohtani nor the Los Angeles Dodgers wanted. 
Ohtani made his fourth appearance pitching on the season against American League West leader Houston Astros in the second of a three-game series played at Dodger Stadium. 
Ohtani did pretty good during his two innings on the mound. He gave up a single hit while striking out three Houston hitters to move along his pitching development. The pitching euphoria dissipated once Ohtani left the mound. 
Those three strikeouts that Ohtani recorded all took place in the second inning when he struck out the side of Houston’s lineup. The Ks were even more impressive considering Ohtani is slowly trying to find his back to a dominant two-way form which made him a superstar. 

Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three batters in an abbreviated appearance against the Houston Astros on July 5, 2025. The Astros defeated the Dodgers, 6-4, at Dodger Stadium. Photo credit: Mark Hammond courtesy of Black News Service
Two Tommy John surgeries later, Ohtani has had to work hard and rehab his way back to pitching dominance. He’s a long way from being that pitcher again. However, the short glimpse of what we have seen of Ohtani on the mound thus far has been positive.  
After coming over to the Dodgers from the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani did not pitch in 2024. He was still dominant at the plate as his National League MVP award would attest. With 30 home runs almost midway into the 2025 Major League Baseball season, Ohtani has continued his batting onslaught.   
Now he’s trying to whip his right throwing arm back into tip-top pitching shape. With the Dodgers bringing Ohtani along slowly, the experimentation has been a success so far with his limited action. Saturday’s game against the Astros was no different. 
Ohtani looked masterful during his short stint. It’s too bad the Dodgers couldn’t back him up.    
A day after putting up 18 runs in an 18-1 win against the Dodgers, the Astros put their bats to work in the top half of the third inning. Withstanding a 2-0 lead by the Dodgers through the first two innings, Los Angeles could not overcome Houston’s takeover rally in the top half of the third inning. 
Houston scored four runs in that third inning to propel the Astros to a 6-4 road victory on July 5. The win by the Astros means Houston captured the series from the Dodgers, something Los Angeles is not used to. 

Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani makes his fourth appearance as a pitcher during a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium on July 5, 2025. Photo credit: Mark Hammond courtesy of Black News Service
Up until the series against the Astros, the Dodgers had won seven straight series. The last time the Dodgers surrendered a series to an opponent was early June when they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals. Ohtani’s bat and right arm was not enough this time to stave off the Astros from clinching the series. 
The game started with plenty of promise for Ohtani and the Dodgers. After giving up a leadoff single, Ohtani swept through Houston’s other three batters to close out the top half of the first inning. 
Mookie Betts then hit a solo home run to left centerfield in the bottom of the first to give the Dodgers and early lead.  
The Dodgers added a run in the second inning and two scored two more times in the fourth when Miguel Rojas belted a two-run shot out of the field of play. By that time, Ohtani was finished for the day as a pitcher. As a hitter, it wasn’t exactly Ohtani’s best day. 
Ohtani’s official stat sheet shows the left-handed swinger going 1-4 with a walk and one hit. Once Ohtani left the mound, the Houston bats came alive. The Astros scored four runs in the third inning and added another one in the fourth. 
Houston got an insurance run in the eighth inning to increases its lead to 6-4. After wrapping up their series against the Astros, the Dodgers hit the road to play the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants before the All-Star break. 
The Dodgers then return home to face the Brewers and Minnesota Twins for a six-game homestand before ending the month of July on the road. 
Featured Image: Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani pitches against the Houston Astros on July 5, 2025. Photo credit: Mark Hammond courtesy of Black News Service

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